God, the name given in English to the one supreme being, as postulated, especially but not exclusively, by the three major Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as well as Hinduism (Brahman), Sikhism and Zoroastrianism. When spelled with a small "g" it is a common noun, referring to one of the postulated supernatural beings of some religious systems, such as the gods of the Greek and Roman religions.
See Deities for a list from various religions. See also Goddess.
It can also be used to refer to similar concepts such as an energy or consciousness that pervade the universe, and whose existence makes the universe possible; the source of all existence (YHWH); the best and highest good within all sentient beings; a higher power; or even that which is beyond all understanding or definition.
Conflicting interpretations arise regarding the name of "God", and what the name actually means—often the infinite God concept is mixed with non-infinite personifications of "God" (i.e., God as an old man, a Zeus or Odin.) A belief in a "God" or gods is found in all cultures, although followers of a particular God or gods may consider other gods to be nonexistent or inferior. Likewise many people hold non-literal, sometimes even secular interpretations of God; few of which contradict the concept of the "Absolute Infinite", despite any contradictions they may have with any particular religious tradition.
The word God comes from the Old English/German/Norse language family and is equivalent to the derivatives of the Latin word Deus. The meaning and etymology behind the Germanic/Indo-European word God as used in English and its cognates (such as Gott in modern German) have been hotly disputed, though most agree in a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European form ʒuðán, which means something like "possession" or "inspiration", and could be related to everything from the old Germanic divinity Wotan/Odin to the Greek word khute, meaning "libation".
Jehovah or Yahweh—one of the names used for God in the Bible, based on the Hebrew YHVH (יהוה). This name, while appearing in Jewish prayers, is never pronounced (Adonai is usually said instead). As written Hebrew did not originally mark vowels, the original pronunciation is speculative. See The name of God in Judaism for many other Jewish names of God.
In exclusivistic religions like Christianity, and Islam, it is believed that the God has revealed a version of his message which is final and the only true message through a prophet or messenger. Most followers of exclusivistic religions also believe that their path is the only path to salvation ordained by God.
In inclusivistic religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Transcendentalism, it is believed that the followers of religion do not have an exclusive path to God. Followers of inclusivistic faiths believe that followers of other religions are equally correct and are just on a different path to the same destination.
Alternately, there are a variety of arguments against the existence of God. The problem of evil argues that the suffering seen in the world is inconsistent with an omnipotent but benevolent God. The argument from Inconsistent Revelations argues the diversity of different religious beliefs makes the 'truth' of any particular viewpoint on God highly improbable. Incompatible-properties arguments contend that many of the properties often assigned to God are logically inconsistent with each other.
Fideism maintains that all these attempted proofs and disproofs of God's existence are misguided, as belief in God must depend on faith, rather than any rational arguments or proofs.
Theology is the study of the nature of the divine. Theologians attempt to explicate (and in some cases systematize) beliefs as well as expressing their own personal experience of the divine. We attempt to classify theologies according to their views on two fundamental issues:
Answers to these questions reflect, and imply, different positions concerning the relationship between God or god(s) and the world, and between God or god(s) and humankind.
Theism holds that God is both transcendent and immanent; thus, God is simultaneously infinite and in some way present in the affairs of the world. Catholic theology holds that God is infinitely simple and is outside of time. Most theists hold that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent, although this belief raises questions about God's responsibility for evil and suffering in the world. Some theists ascribe to God a self-conscious or purposeful limiting of omnipotence, omniscience, or benevolence. For a discussion of the meaning of "God" in this sense, see: What is God.
Deism holds that God is wholly transcendent: God exists, but does not intervene in the world beyond what was necessary for God to create it. In this view, God is not anthropomorphic, and does not literally answer prayers or cause miracles to occur.
Monotheism holds that there is only one god, or that the one true god is worshipped in different religions under different names. Polytheism is a belief in a multitude of gods, not necessarily all possessed of equal power. Different forms of polytheism state different numbers of gods, ranging from the dozens to the thousands.
Pantheism holds that God is the universe and the universe is God. Panentheism holds that God contains, but is not identical to, the Universe. The distinctions between the two are subtle, and many consider them unhelpful. Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, paints a pantheistic/panentheistic view of God; which has wide acceptance in Hasidic Judaism, particularly from their founder The Baal Shem Tov. It is also the view of the Liberal Catholic Church, Theosophy, Cosmotheism, some Buddhists, Taoism, Process theology and a Christian movement known as Creation Spirituality, along with many varying denomintions and individuals within denominations. Within Sanatana Dharma, or Hinduism (as it is commonly called) a variety of lesser gods are seen as aspects of the one God, Brahman (not Brahma). Brahman is the ultimate, both transcendent and immanent the absolute infiniteexistence, the sum total of all that ever is, was, or ever shall be. Vedanta is a branch of Hindu philosophy which gives this matter a greater focus. Yoga is the primary focus in many ways of a Hindu's religious activities, being somewhere between meditation, prayer and healthful exercise. Some of the Hindu gods include Brahma, Devi, Vishnu, and Siva. Most of its adherents are monists, seeing in multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheism. It is seen as one unity, with the lesser gods aspects of the one, like many colors of the same prism, and seen by some as valid to worship. Many even believe they may be able to bring worshippers closer to Moksha, end of the cycle of rebirth. Some sects of Hinduism believe in a monotheistic ideal of Krishna, or Vishnu or Shiva, but Brahman is more often seen as the one God, with all other gods emanating therefrom. With all Hindus, there is a strong belief in all paths/true religions leading to One God.
Maltheism is a form of theism, which holds that God is a cruel, arrogant, abusive, and untruthful being, unworthy of worship. They point to the hypocritical inconsistencies in God's behavior and commands as found in the Bible and other religious writings as evidence of this. Maltheists note the hypocrisy in attributing all that is good to an omnipotent being, while denying that this being should also be held responsible for all that is evil. They note that the problem of evil really isn't a problem at all: the answer to the question "If God is omnipotent and benevolent, why is there evil in the world?" is an obvious one—there is no way an omnipotent benevolent God would allow evil in the world, therefore God is either not omnipotent, not benevolent, or both. This is similar to the notion that if God is 'our Heavenly Father', why would he treat us, his children, the way he does? Many Maltheists believe that God is dependent on human worship to live, and that minimizing humanity's offering of worship to him will diminish his power over us. The existence of Maltheism demonstrates that believing in (the existence of) God and worshiping God are two distinctly different things.
Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit every existing thing, including plants, minerals, animals and, including all the elements, air, water, earth, and fire. The first form of worship probably expressed animist ideas. The anthropologist E. B. Tylor argued that religion originally took an animist form.
Dualism, sometimes also called Manichaeism (although, strictly speaking, Manichaeism is but one dualistic religion), holds that there is both a perfectly good God and an opposing evil deity of equal potency. It is the belief that there are only two fundamental things or substances or constituents of things in the world at large or in the human soul. An example would be that both good and evil simultaneously exist and that one cannot survive without the other. That they balance each other even though they are independent of each other. An ancient form of Zoroastrianism which was known to the ancient Greeks was dualist in nature.
Henotheism is the belief in one god, but at the same time does not deny the existence of other gods. It is a variation of polytheism which holds that there are many gods, but one of them is supreme and the other ones are only ancillary and don't have the same level of "god-ness". Some forms of Greek and Roman classical polytheism fall into this category. The gods of Norse mythology, who are subsidiary to Odin are another example of henotheism. The term has come to mean in recent years that one believes in multiple god/esses, though the worshipper "borrows" from various cultural groups and may worship one above the others. An example would be worshipping a Greco-Roman god for one reason and then asking a Celtic god for something else. This form of henotheism is frequently condemned in the Torah or Old Testament. The pagans of the Roman Empire were similarly henotheistic, as are some modern-day Neopagans. Some sects of Hinduism possibly fall under this, but are more appropriately termed monist deists.
Monolatrism forms a type of henotheism. Its adherents believe that many gods do exist, but these gods can exert their power only on those who worship them. Thus, a monolatrist may believe in the reality of both the Egyptian gods and the god described in the Bible, but sees him or herself as a member of only one of these religions. The gods that he/she worships affects their life; the other gods do not.
Polytheism is the belief in more than one god/dess. In some beliefs it is said that all these god/desses are of equal power and authority while in others a hierarchy exists. The Greco-Roman deity structure exemplifies polytheism.
A few people use the word "monotheism" to refer to the belief in a single god and use "theism" to refer to any belief in god(s), i.e., monotheism or polytheism. Some theists believe in the existence of other less powerful immortal beings, but give them other names such as angels or demons.
Some people, find the concept of God meaningless or unnecessary.
Atheism holds that no gods exist at all. Different atheists formulate this position in different ways. Some posit that Buddhism is an atheistic form of religion.
In addition, there are those who regard themselves as unavoidably ignorant.
Agnosticism holds that humans cannot or do not know whether or not any god or gods exist. Some theists and some atheists hold variations of this belief.
Jews, Muslims, and a small fraction of Christians are unitarian monotheists. The vast majority of Christians have been and still are Trinitarian monotheists. Many Trinitarian Christians hold that belief in the Trinity is so essential to Christianity that Unitarian Christians are pseudo-Christians, in need of being baptized with the Trinitarian formula before they can be considered genuine Christians.
Unitarian monotheists hold that there is only one "person" (so to speak), or one basic substance, in God. Some consider Trinitarianism to be a form of polytheism. In contrast, Trinitarian monotheists believe in one god that exists as three distinct persons who share the same substance/essence; this belief is called the Trinity: compare with the HinduTrimurti. See also Christology.
Mormons hold that God is one of three divine personages collectively referred to as the Godhead. One of these personages is a spirit without a body referred to as the Holy Ghost. The other two personages are spirits with perfected or glorified (often called celestial) bodies referred to as Heavenly Father (or less commonly "Eloheim") and his son, Jesus Christ. Mormons hold that God is a Holy Man, or sanctified human who advanced to his divine status through a repeatable process of progression. They believe that by following the precepts of their faith humans can literally become gods (sometimes phrased as "become like Heavenly Father") at some point after death and resurrection. This belief is mainly held in the largest Mormon branch, the Source | Copyright
